outflankv.
/ˌaʊtˈflaŋk/, U.S. /ˌaʊtˈflæŋk/ 1.
a. transitive. Military. To extend or get beyond the flank of (an opposing army); to outmanoeuvre (an adversary) by a flanking movement.
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society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > outflank
overwing1623
outwing1648
turn1762
outflank1766
1766 Ann. Reg. 1765 Hist. Europe 10/1 Greatly to outflank any line of battle into which it was possible for the major to form his few forces.
1814 J. B. Scott Diary 20 Oct. in E. Mann Englishman at Home & Abroad (1930) vi. 147 The retreat was effected in good order, we continuing to fire upon the enemy and manoevouring to prevent their outflanking us.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 216 The bridleless Numidian cavalry..outflanking the enemy, and riding round towards their rear, first fell on the retreating infantry.
1940 Econ. Geogr. 16 114/1 Outflanking the main strength of the Maginot Line necessitates marching through Belgium and the Netherlands.
1991 R. Cooke Paintball 91/1 It is always a good idea to have two or more players automatically break away at the very start of the game to outflank the enemy team as soon as there is an engagement.
b. transitive. In extended use: to get the better of, confound.
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the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)]
overcomeeOE
forecomec1000
overwieldlOE
masterc1225
overmaistrie1340
overmatcha1375
overpassa1382
surmount1390
to have the fairer (of)c1400
maistriec1400
overmasterc1425
winc1440
overc1485
bestride1526
rixlec1540
overreach1555
control1567
overmate1567
govern1593
to give (a person) the lurch1598
get1600
to gain cope of1614
top1633
to fetch overa1640
down1641
to have the whip hand (of)1680
carberry1692
to cut down1713
to be more than a match for1762
outflank1773
outmaster1799
outgeneral1831
weather1834
best1839
fore-reach1845
to beat a person at his (also her, etc.) own game1849
scoop1850
euchrec1866
bemaster1871
negotiate1888
to do down1900
to get (someone) wetc1926
lick1946
1773 Gentleman's Mag. 43 416 We were outflanked by the law.
1808 N. Bisbee Hist. Falcos ii. iv. 64 You have fairly out-flanked me, friend Verber.
1884 R. W. Church Bacon iv. 82 The devising of questionable legal subtleties..to outflank the defence of some obnoxious prisoner.
1911 M. Beerbohm Zuleika Dobson xvii. 249 The perfection of her victory without it—was what galled him. Yes, she had outflanked him, taken him unawares, and he had fired not one shot.
1943 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 37 499 The Ohio case indicates also that a determined majority of the council may outflank the direct legislation supporters.
1989 Japan Times 20 May 20/5 In order to outflank the party, some opposition groups may be forced to move further to the right.
a. transitive. To lie or extend beyond (the flank). Obsolete.
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the world > space > relative position > quality of having sides or being a side > side [verb (transitive)] > lie beyond the side of
outflank1796
1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 107 The regiment breaks into column of divisions, to which ever hand the new position out flanks the old one.
b. intransitive. To extend beyond the flank. Obsolete.
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1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 110 When the new line..out flanks towards the point of intersection, then the regiment breaking to that hand, will have its head..nearer to the new line than its rear.
Derivatives
outˈflanking n. and adj.
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1841 Southern Literary Messenger 7 753/2 It is a species of manœuvre much resembling the outflanking in military tactics.
1893 F. W. L. Adams New Egypt 245 The choice lay..between a direct front attack and an outflanking movement.
1940 Econ. Geogr. 16 114/1 If such outflanking is by the northern end.
2000 J. Caughie Television Drama iii. 70 The outflanking of the Left by a really popular Popular Culture.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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